3 days in Chicago over July 4th weekend

What are the best thing to do in Chicago over the weekend of July, 4th? Arriving on Thursday evening and leaving sunday evening. We already have a place to sleep which is pretty central. Please, no museums (expect they are exceptional). Where do you have the best view on the fireworks? Where to go for a awesome brunch/breakfast? Where to dinner? We like to walk around and do some people watching. No budget restrictions.

People often don't go very far outside the loop, and that's a mistake. I highly suggest these activities.

1) Take the Blue Line (this is the train that goes back and forth to the airport) to the Damen Ave/North Avenue stop. There dine on tacos, donuts, beer, and coffee. There's lots of all of these things and I won't make specific recommendations. Just stumble and you'll find something great.

2) Take the Blue again to Chicago Avenue and then walk down to Flo for brunch. It's my recent favorite and does a lot of Mexican infusion.

3) In the loop make sure you go to the Chicago Cultural Center. The building itself is gorgeous and frequently gets overlooked. They have rotating exhibits there.

4) As cheesy as it might seem to go to the zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo is the last free zoo in the country. It's worth a quick go-around and make sure you check out the massive greenhouse.

5) Go to Revolution Brewing. It's now one of Chicago's largest independent brewers and it's awesome.

9) Although watching the Fireworks from Navy Pier might seem like the thing to do, it's way more interesting to find another spot where you can see multiple shows at a time. There are a bunch rooftop bars at hotels and restaurants around the city. Find one and make a reservation to enjoy drinks on the 4th.

If you have a sunny day, take a boat ride on the Lake or River. If you are an architecture buff, then the Chicago Architecture Tour on River is the best, if you just want a nice boat ride there are lots to choose from including Wendella, Shoreline and SeaDog (although of the ones I've done, that's my least favorite). Go for a bike ride along the lakefront, you can rent bikes or use the Divvy bikes (but make sure you know how they work, they are time restricted). See if there's a free concert at Millennium Park. Take an instragreeter tour starting at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The big fireworks along the lakefront was cancelled a few years back but Navy Pier has them on the 2nd, 4th and 5th, I assume that the ones on the 4th will be the largest display.

My favorite breakfast place downtown is Bongo Room but expect a pretty hefty wait on the weekend. On Sunday, consider going to the Maxwell Street Market where you can get amazing Mexican food and the most delicious churros.

I will actually be traveling back to Chicago, where I'm originally from, over Fourth of July weekend as well. I've been researching the best places to see fireworks and I would say especially if you have no budget restrictions is to go to Navy Pier and go on one of the boats that are there to see the fireworks out on the lake Michigan waters. I believe this may be around $150 or so a person to do but I have heard that it is very nice.

Where to for dinner out in that area I would totally suggest for a real Chicago non-tourist vibe RJ Grunts which is very well known for the invention of the 'first salad bar ever,' which is really huge and has so many fresh choices plus they have amazing burgers!

For breakfast and it is only a breakfast establishment one of the best places to get a cinnamon roll the size of your head pretty much is Ann Sather. They are only open until about 1-2pm in the afternoon and be prepared to wait for a table because the food is that good! I don't believe they take reservations there so it's first come, first serve.

I would also say check out Geja's Cafe if you want a very romantic place to eat at, it's a fondue restaurant set in like a little groto. They have guitarists and it's all candlelit and it's a lot of fun to cook your own food. Now be sure to call them ahead of time, make reservations and ask them for a booth... You have curtains with the booths so you can make it much more intimate. ;)

Entertainment wise Chicago is a huge improv city so I would suggest checking out Second City and The I.O. Theater. You are there during summer so definitely swing by Millenium Park and check out our infamous bean. If I remember more to do I will be sure to add to my list but hopefully this helps you!